Markandeya said: - -
1. O Yudhishthira, when all this about the mystery of salvation was told to the Brahmana, he was highly pleased. He then thus spoke to the virtuous Fowler.
The Brahmanas said: - -
2. All this that you have told me is rational. It appears that there is nothing in connection with the mysteries of religion which you do not know.
The Fowler said: - -
3. O foremost of Brahmanas, chief of the twice-born, behold with your own eyes all the virtues that I possess and by reason of which I have attained to this success (blissful state).
4. O exalted one, arise, soon enter this inner apartment. O virtuous one, you should see (first) my father and my mother.
Markandeya said: - -
5. Having been thus addressed, he went in and saw a magnificent and charming house, divided in suits of rooms,
6. Resembling the abode of the celestials adorned by the gods. It was furnished with seats and beds and filled with excellent perfumes.
7. His adorable parents, after their meal, were comfortably seated there on excellent seats, with white robes on. Seeing them the Fowler prostrated himself before them with his head at their feet.
The Aged ones said: - -
8. O virtuous one, arise, arise, may virtue protect you. We are much pleased with your virtue. Be blessed with a long life,
9. And with knowledge, high intelligence and fulfillment of your desires. O son, you are good and dutiful son, we are always taken care by you.
10. There is not even among the celestials such a one as to deserve worship from you. By always subduing your senses you have acquired the self-control of the twice born.
11. Your father, grand-father and great grand-fathers are, O son, always pleased with you, for your (great) self-control and for your reverence for us.
12. In thought, in word or in action, your attention to us never flags and it appears, even at present, that you have no other thought in your mind.
13. O son, as the son of Jamadagni, Rama tried to serve his old parents, so have you done to please us, nay you have done more.
14. Then the virtuous Fowler introduced the Brahmana to his parents; they received him with the usual salutation of welcome.
15. The Brahmana accepting their welcome, enquired if they with their children and servants were well and if they were always enjoying good health.
The aged ones said: - -
16. O Brahmana, we are all well in our home with all our servants. O exalted, one, have you come here without any difficulty?
Markandeya said: - -
17. The Brahmana replied in gladness by saying, “Yes, I am not face any difficulty”. Then the virtuous Fowler thus spoke to the Brahmana.
The Fowler said: - -
18. O exalted one, these my father and mother are the idols I worship with whatever adoration due to the gods.
19. Thirty-three million gods with Indra at their head, are worshipped by all men, so are these aged parents of mine worshipped by me.
20. As the Brahmanas try to procure offerings for their gods, so do I, with diligence for these two (my aged parents).
21. O Brahmana, these my father and mother are my supreme gods. O twice-born one, I always try to gratify them with the offering of fruits, flowers and gems.
22. To me they are like the three sacred fires mentioned by the learned. O Brahmana, they are to me as the sacrifices in the four Vedas.
23. My five vital airs, my wife, children and friends are all for them. With my wife and my children, I always serve them.
24. O foremost of Brahmanas, with my own hands I assist them in bathing; I also wash their feet, I give them food.
25. I speak to them only what is agreeable, avoiding all that is unpleasant and disagreeable. I even do that which is not virtuous, to please them.
26-28. O foremost of the twice-born, O Brahmanas, I am always diligent in always waiting upon them. The parents, the sacred, fire, the soul, the preceptor, these five. O foremost of Brahmanas deserve the highest worship from a person who seeks prosperity. By properly serving them, one acquires the merit of perpetually keeping up the sacred fires. It is the eternal and invariable duty of all who lead domestic life.
Thus ends the two hundred and thirteenth chapter, colloquy between the Fowler and the Brahmana in the Markandeya Samasya of the Vana Parva.